Daihatsu's bathtub-shaped Copen roadster - famous only for being the smallest convertible on the market - will go out of production in August 2012, after 10 years of production yielded just 56 000 sales worldwide.
The tiny mid-engined roadster with the folding aluminium roof was sold outside Japan (including South Africa) with a 63kW,1.3-litre naturally-aspirated engine, while domestic models came with a 46kW, turbocharged 660cc screamer to meet Japanese 'kei car' regulations.
To add further absurdity, the standard transmission in Japan was a four-speed auto - the five-speed manual cost ¥200 000 (R2000) extra!